Judith Cohen began playing the piano at the age of five, and studied at the Chicago Musical College until the age of 18. She was First Prize Winner in the 1984 Pacific International Piano Competition, prompting jury chairman Dr. Bela Nagy to call her “one of the five best pianists I have heard in the last 15 years.” She has also won prizes in the Memphis International Keyboard Competition, the International Young Keyboard Artists Association Competition, and the International Piano Recording Competition. In 1985, she was the only American of eight pianists chosen to perform in the public master classes of Maestro Aldo Ciccloni in Bari, Italy. That same year, Ms. Cohen made her Community Concerts debut with recitals in Idaho, Washington, and Montana. She also made her international debut with a recital in Mexico under the sponsorship of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. Critic Robert Somerlott of The Mexico City News hailed her as an “artist of unusual talent who captivated the audience with both her musicianship and stage presence.”

Since 1989, Judith Cohen has served as Artistic Director of the Governor’s Chamber Music Series, planning and performing in chamber music concerts throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has also appeared at the Abbey Bach Festival, the Ernest Bloch Music Festival, the Second City Chamber Series, and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra Showcase Series. She has been presented in solo recitals by the Dame Myra Hess Recital Series in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Ms. Cohen made her European recital debut in April of 2002, performing two solo recitals in Budapest, Hungary. She has appeared as soloist with various orchestras in the Pacific Northwest, performing concerti by Beethoven, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and others.

Judith Cohen’s discography includes a CD featuring the solo piano music of Bela Bartok. Of this recording, Fanfare magazine reported: “On this attractive Bartok collection—in which some of his most popular piano music rubs up against less standard fare—[Cohen] shows herself to be a persuasive advocate for his gentler side. ...her light, treble-tilted tone and her transparent textures show her chosen repertoire off to good advantage. Her deft swing through the Roumanian Folk Dances is especially refreshing.” In December of 2000, Pear Records of Los Angeles released three CDs of solo piano and chamber music showcasing Ms. Cohen at the piano. In the spring of 2003, Capstone Records released a live-concert recording titled “In Tandem: Music for Two Pianos,” performed by Ms. Cohen and pianist Jill Timmons. Ms. Cohen has also recently collaborated with internationally known photographer Bruce Barnbaum on a CD of solo piano and chamber music. His most recent book of photographs, Tone Poems, is sold with the companion CD. Go to Purchase CDs to place an order.